Tag Archives: Cub Scouts

Little Bits

Posted on October 30, 2009 | Comments Off on Little Bits

* Back when I used to eat sugar with abandon, Necco wafers were my favorites. Just as well I can’t eat them anymore. They’ve turned organic, flavored by such as red beet juice. Sounds dreadful.

* Dick Cheney is backing Kay Bailey Hutchinson for governor. Lordy. While Sarah plumps for Rick Perry. This could be a dustup. What is it about Republicans? Why do they so often choose suicide?

* This weekend I expect to be eating leftover, stale candy corn. A little, anyhow. Might as try a Necco.

* Mr. B., upon learning that his cub scout pack will be picking up trash after his school’s Halloween carnival on Saturday: "That’s the thing about the scouts. There’s the good parts and the bad parts."

* Happy to see this old photo I snatched years ago still draws ’em in. A score or more hits a day, in fact.

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Posted in Scribbles

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I survived Enchanted Rock

Posted on October 11, 2009 | Comments Off on I survived Enchanted Rock

Well, spiritually, anyhow. My back and sides still ache from sleeping (or, trying to) on a malfunctioning air mattress and I can feel the start of a cold from the chilly rain we encountered with the Cub Scouts out there this morning. Mr. B., with the resilience of youth, shrugged it all off. I remember. This sort of adversity used to be fun when I was young. Everything is fun when you’re young.

I did not actually climb the rock’s pink granite dome this time. I took a nap in our tent, instead. The other older father, about ten years younger than me, did climb. He contrived to fall about five feet in a cave the boys were exploring. He landed on his back and spent the rest of the trip hobbling about. I expect to be fully recovered from my aches and pains by Tuesday night. Next year’s trip, after which Mr. B. will be a Boy Scout, will be my last. The Boy Scouts don’t mind if parents come on their campouts but it’s not encouraged. Mercifully.

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Posted in Mr. Boy

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Off to Enchanted Rock

Posted on October 9, 2009 | Comments Off on Off to Enchanted Rock

Mr. B. and I leave early tomorrow morning for the annual fall Cub Scout camping trip. This time we’re staying at Enchanted Rock state park, the big pink granite dome north of Fredericksburg where Texas Ranger Jack Hays fought off a Comanche war party about 1844.

The boys will be hiking to the top at noon. Not sure I’m going to make it to the top this time, but have done it many times before. Fortunately the mail today brought my review copy of Mike Cox’s new book, so I can read until they come down.

We’ve been advised to bring lots of bug spray, as all the recent rain in the Hill Country out there has vastly increased the mosquito population. Forecast highs in the seventies, lows in the fifties, however, should make long pants and long sleeves comfortable, as well as protective.

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Posted in Mr. Boy, Rancho Roly Poly, Texana, Weather/Climate

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Webelos I

Posted on September 26, 2009 | Comments Off on Webelos I

Mr. B. is a rising Webelos Cub Scout now, and the first requirement is for a citizenship belt-loop. Part of it is to do a public service of some kind. His den decided to have a bake sale outside Sam’s Club and donate the money to charity. I had forgotten how long ninety minutes can be in retail, standing through most of it and smiling even when you don’t feel like it.

Lots of generous people, though. One woman gave the boys a twenty without taking even a cup of lemonade or a cookie or a brownie. So after the ninety minutes, when even the boys were dragging and begging to have it over with, we gathered up what goodies were left, counted out the $139.75 we had made and took it to the Austin Humane Society. We got a nice tour of a nicer and cleaner place than I imagined it was. I held my breath for the adopt a dog or cat request but it didn’t come. Whew.

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Posted in Mr. Boy

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Polar bear club

Posted on February 21, 2009 | Comments Off on Polar bear club

We made the Cub Scout topaz hunt in Mason County this afternoon out in the western Hill Country (didn’t find any but it was fun digging for them in a dry creek bed) but skipped the overnight campout. Stopped in Fredericksburg for supper then came on back to find the weather service out there pegging the temp at this hour at thirty-four degrees. Their forecast low will be twenty-three, cold enough to freeze their water bottles. The pack leader said all who stayed would be eligible for the "polar bear" belt loop. Most of them are in tents. Our den leader brought his Airstream trailer. We’re glad we’re missing it.

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Posted in Mr. Boy, Texana

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Camping freeze

Posted on February 19, 2009 | Comments Off on Camping freeze

Mr. Boy is complaining mightily that he can’t join his cub scout pals camping out this Saturday in Mason County because "my parents are too old." True, in part. The forecast low Saturday night in Mason is right at thirty-four degrees and meteorologist Bob Rose is predicting a possible further decline into light-freeze territory.

So I told the thirtyish den father that Mrs. Charm and me would bring Mr. B. out for the topaz hunt but then go home rather than subject ourselves to a freezing night in a sleeping bag even if it is on an air mattress. He curled his lip. I couldn’t tell who he was more contemptuous of: me or the weather forecast. Youth, bah.

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Posted in Mr. Boy

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Cub scout camping

Posted on October 18, 2008 | Comments Off on Cub scout camping

Tonight will be our fourth campout in the woods with Mr. B.’s cub scout den. This time we’ll only be a few miles from the rancho. It’s forecast to be in the high seventies during the day but drop into the upper forties overnight.

I’m bringing two radios, just in case, in order to listen to the Longhorns game. I expect them to beat Missouri, but I want to be sure to hear them do it. Watching it would be nice, but I never bought one of those portable televisions. No, that isn’t true. We had one on the family sloop years ago, but it was stolen. Anyway, where we’re going is in a valley between two hills, so the teevee reception might be poor. If necessary, I’ll hike up the shortest hill to listen to the game. But it probably won’t be.

UPDATE:  It was fun sitting in a camp chair, watching Orion climb the sky and listening to the Longhorns as they thrashed Missouri, 56-31. Next up, Oklahoma State, should be a bit tougher.

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Posted in Mr. Boy, Rancho Roly Poly, Sailing, Texas Football, Weather/Climate

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